Retail Reset; Hong Kong Estate Commercial Centre as Public Amenity
Wah Fu (1) Shopping Centre, South District
The architecture of Hong Kong’s estate centres offer a legacy of rich public amenity. While Hong Kong estate housing towers are well documented, the architecture of estate centres have not been systematically examined. There are at least 248 such centres today with an unbroken evolution in design thinking beginning with Wah Fu Estate in 1965 and ending in 2005 with the divestment of government estate centres, two events that bracket our period of study.
The architecture of Hong Kong’s estate centres offer a legacy of rich public amenity. While Hong Kong estate housing towers are well documented, the architecture of estate centres have not been systematically examined. There are at least 248 such centres today with an unbroken evolution in design thinking beginning with Wah Fu Estate in 1965 and ending in 2005 with the divestment of government estate centres, two events that bracket our period of study.
Estate centre shops, services and public space constitute the heart of their communities. Yet 50 years since the first estate centres were constructed, the centres face increasing commercial pressure, mass privatization, substantial retrofit and demolition. A solution to safeguard estate centre public function may lie in the architectural legacy itself. Innovative design strategies appear to resist ready transformation into ideal shopping malls and offer lessons in how to defend public amenity in commercial settings at large.
First phase research is sponsored by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects. The Design Trust Seed Grant will support an exhibition featuring original estate centre drawing and photography.
- 2021
- Grantee: Jeffrey Cheng, Kris Provoost , Don Hong
Jeffrey Cheng is founder of the architecture and design studio, Building Narrative. Born in Toronto, Canada, Jeffrey holds a Bachelor and Masters in architecture from the University of Waterloo. He is the recipient of the Ontario Association of Architects Guild Medal and has trained for ten years with internationally acclaimed architects including REX Architects, Buro Ole Scheeren and Farrells. Jeffrey will lead the Seed Grant initiative.
Kris Provoost is a Belgian award-winning photographer specializing in architecture, interior and infrastructure. After graduating as an architect, Kris moved to China where he worked for a decade for world-leading design firms such as Zaha Hadid Architects, Ole Scheeren and GMP.
After moving to Hong Kong, he focused on his photography career, working with architects, developers and brands to photograph their projects through an architect's eye.
Don Hong received his Bachelor Degree in Newcastle University and Masters at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Don is a member of Building Narrative. He is interested in the intersection of public and private urban spaces. Don’s master thesis examines the conversion of malls into community resources.
- Organisation: Building Narrative, Kris Provoost Photography
The project is a collaboration between Building Narrative and Kris Provoost Photography.
Building Narrative is an architecture and design studio established by Jeffrey Cheng in 2018. The studio seeks to tell those stories that bind us to a particular place, time and each other. The work ranges from hotel interiors to material innovation, with expertise in residential and F&B interior design. The studio is based in Hong Kong with representation in Guangzhou.
Kris Provoost Photography is a photography studio established and based in Hong Kong in 2019. Kris Provoost is active across Asia and Europe photographing for a wide roster of clients ranging from architects, developers, interior designers, publications.
Besides creating client work, he is actively telling stories that merge architectural photography with social issues. Photo essays include ‘Beautified China’ (Book publication 2019), ‘Human vs City, in frame: Chongqing’ and ‘Eden of the Orient: Hong Kong’